The Onyx - Synaptics' ClearPad concept phone

This is totally on the concept design tip and so won't ever actually be produced, but check out the Onyx, a prototype handset that Synaptics and Pilotfish put together that uses Synaptics' new ClearPad touch screen. We're still not totally sold on button-less phones -- we crave the tactility -- but the Onyx lets you do stuff like close an app by drawing an "X" over it with your finger, send messages by swiping them off the screen, and answer a call simply by placing the phone against your cheek. Don't expect to ever actually get your hands on the Onyx, but Synaptics is planning to make ClearPad available to manufacturers around the end of the year, so there's a decent chance that phones like it could start showing up within a couple of years.




[Via Core77]

[snowglyder @ Aug 21st 2006 11:02AM]

Is that voice caller id?

[ajprice @ Aug 21st 2006 11:07AM]

That'll be the same Synaptics that make the iPod click wheel then.. *cough*iPod video touchscreen*cough*

[james @ Aug 21st 2006 11:19AM]

ClearPad is based on Synaptics' proprietary sensing technology, and will offer unique capabilities such as two finger input, proximity sensing, text entry and high resolution finger input that can dramatically improve and enhance the user experience with a touch screen.

"Proximity Sensing” I know apple put in for a patent for this. I wonder if these people own it already

[Apple kills another small project @ Aug 21st 2006 11:57AM]

ARGGG IM SO SOO SOOOOO sick of seeing concept phones that rock and then at the end seeing "will never see in production" give it a rest just manufacture the da*n phone already stop giving us these plastic hunks of junk with no innovation (like the razr and slvr) and give us something new an innovative like this with a huge oled screen already!

[CoryB @ Aug 21st 2006 12:08PM]

Hmmm, the company that has an established relationship workign with Apple on consumer devices (iPods) shows off a prototype phone that makes use of the same sort of touch screen interface Apple is rumored to be looking at for their next gen devices, one of which is rumored to be a cell phone. To me this prototype smells a lot more like the iPhone than the video iPod, although the screen might end up in both, assuming they are not actually the same thing.

[flamer's grill @ Aug 21st 2006 12:25PM]

This phone reminds me of the phone/remote control of the future from V for Vendetta. That phone was RAZR-like in its thin-ness, while this phone looks a bit chunky. Scratch that - this phone looks downright enormous. Put this in your pants pocket and you won't be able to bend over or kneel down.

[Spoonman @ Aug 21st 2006 1:16PM]

YOU may like the tactility, I prefer features and personally would love to see the keypad go the way of the dodo. Keeping buttons on a cellphone is like having a dial on your TV.

[@mac @ Aug 21st 2006 3:41PM]

"apple kills another small project" i totally agree with you were in te 21 century approachng the decade mark we NEED innoation brand new technolaggy(at a fraction of the price ; ] )!

[Max @ Aug 21st 2006 8:49PM]

looks kinda cool..
Back in 2003 I allready had an idea similar to this one :D

This render I made back then.
http://www.fotolog.com/kasimir/?pid=7956286

[pauls @ Aug 21st 2006 10:45PM]

about tactility... you know you can have both? i tried out the mitsubishi/docomo dual screen fold handset last hear... there is a physical response from the phone that "hits" the back of the product to confirm that you touched a button. also, previously, i tried out a protype lcd that also had a small mechanical hammer that actually thumped the screen - amazingly, this felt NO different then touching a physical key. seriously... i was amazed, it felt no different. of course, there's no response for touch typing, but seriously... who can do that on a cell phone anyway?

[SARGE @ Aug 24th 2006 9:12PM]

WHERE THE HELL CAN YOU BUY ONE OF THESE PHONES

[Daniel Cheung @ Aug 28th 2006 10:59AM]

...or can you say iPhone?

[Sean @ Aug 29th 2006 3:03PM]

With regards to the tactility of a cellphone's keypad, i truly believe that it is liked simply because that's what people are used to. I'm sure after a few years of using a touchscreen pad, even the staunchest supporter of button keypads will wonder how they ever got by having to press buttons all the time.

As with any proof of concept, I doubt we'll ever see this phone on the market. To be honest, I'd prefer if Synaptics focused on implementing their proprietary technologies into useful applications that would benefit immediately rather than nifty toys whos use would have to catch up to the technology.